AMERICAN BIOGAS COUNCIL - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Chairman / Montrose Environmental Group
- Vice President of Engineering, Montrose Environmental Group, Inc.
Bernie Sheff holds both Bachelors and Masters of Science in Civil Engineering from Michigan State University. He has been a Registered Professional Engineer in the State of Michigan since 1988 and is also registered in the states of Massachusetts, Ohio and Indiana. He started his career with STS Consultants (STS) in 1984 as an assistant project engineer. He became the VP of the Michigan region for STS and completed his first digestion project as part of a 1 MGD wastewater treatment facility in 1991. This facility a large beef abattoir in SW Michigan was one of many projects in the animal processing arena including systems at duck, chicken and hog operations.
Since early 2000 he has focused on nutrient recovery, sand separation and digestion in the agricultural market, most significantly the dairy industry and the co-digestion of residuals from confined feeding operations and food processing residuals. A 3 year board member, in November of 2014 he was elected as Chairman of the Board of the American Biogas Council.
Job Titles:
- Managing Director, Environmental Energy Capital LLC
Job Titles:
- Senior Engineer
- President, EcoEngineers
Brad is a Senior Engineer and leads EcoEngineers' renewable natural gas line of business guiding municipalities, industries, and project developers implementing biogas to RNG projects. He is a licensed Professional Engineer with over 15 years of experience in the planning, engineering design, and construction of water, wastewater, and renewable energy projects and has worked with over 100 renewable energy facilities to help with consulting or compliance related activities. He has a civil engineering degree from Iowa State University and is currently a licensed professional engineer in 13 states.
Job Titles:
- Biogas Program Director, University of Wisconsin Oshkosh
Brian M. Langolf, M.S. has 10 years of biogas operations, research and laboratory analysis, and interpretation experience. He currently works at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh serving as the Biogas Program Director. This role involves technical oversight of biogas operations, conduct biogas research and provide digester training and consulting services, and internal and external program outreach. This program supports many academic and sustainability programs on campus and in the local community. Brian has been a member of the American Biogas Council (ABC) since 2012 and has currently served one term on the board of directors.
Job Titles:
- Director of Business Development for U.S. Gain
Bryan Nudelbacher is the Director of Business Development for U.S. Gain, a leader in development, procurement and distribution of renewable natural gas for the transportation and energy markets. As a vertically integrated supplier, U.S. Gain is involved in all aspects of the RNG supply chain - enabling access to the cleanest sustainable energy solutions, at the best value.
Bryan has been instrumental in development of U.S. Gain's CNG & RNG businesses through his depth of industry knowledge, strategic thinking and leadership. Specific experience includes: RNG project registration and ongoing compliance, credit monetization and intricate expertise in the RFS and LCFS programs. Bryan's credentials provide a unique, impactful perspective to both support the ABC and drive the RNG industry forward.
Job Titles:
- Vice Chair of the Board of Directors
- Manager, Sievers Family Farm
A descendant of German and Norwegian immigrants that settled in Iowa between 1850 and 1873, Bryan Sievers, and his wife Lisa, are the current generation of owners and operators of the Sievers' farm. Bryan is an enthusiastic environmental steward of the land and takes pride in using all available resources, including the air, land, water, and sun for their highest and best use. The Sievers' 2,300-acre farming operation, 2,400 head beef cattle feedlot, and renewable energy facility is located in western Scott County, Iowa near Stockton.
In 2009, this philosophy became the motivation behind implementing the combined heat and power (CHP) anaerobic digester project. The Sievers were looking to dramatically expand the farm's beef cattle feedlot but had concerns about any of the expansion's effects on their carbon footprint, water quality, soil health, and the environment. The solution was a 1 MW CHP system fueled by the methane produced from two 970,000 gallon anaerobic digesters utilizing beef cattle manure, agricultural processing waste streams, cover crops, and other co-feeds.
AgriReNew, a company created by the Sievers and their partners, Dr. William and Judy Davidson, commissioned their digesters and CHP power plant in 2013. Today, the digesters process over 55,000 gallons per day of cattle manure and other off-site co-feeds in the complete-mix system. The electricity that's generated, 24 hours per day 7 days per week, is sold to their local service provider, Interstate Power and Light (Alliant Energy).
Job Titles:
- Event Manager
- Events Manager
- Lead Staff Member
Charles Love manages the renewable energy acquisition team for Trillium, which is a member of the Love's Travel Stops extended family of companies. Love's is one of the largest privately held companies in America, with 560+ locations in 41 states. Trillium is focused on building the infrastructure required to support a low-carbon transportation future, including hydrogen fuel cell, battery electric, solar and renewable natural gas technologies.
Charles is responsible for managing the development of RNG projects for the company including dairy farms, wastewater treatment facilities and landfills. Mr. Love also works with RNG developers to market their gas production through offtake agreements. Charles is also an advocate for the industry; he works on public policy items related to RNG & Hydrogen transportation regulations.
Charles graduated from St. Gregory's University and started his third company at the age of 21 (seafood importing, processing, distribution, and retail). Charles changed gears going from the seafood business into the renewable energy industry and now lives in Austin with his wife of twenty-five years and three children.
Job Titles:
- SVP of Business Development for Nature Energy 's U.S
Clarke is SVP of Business Development for Nature Energy's U.S. operations. Nature Energy is a Danish renewable energy company that is the largest producer of biogas (Renewable Natural Gas) in Europe. Nature Energy is growing its European footprint into North America and Clarke is leading its business development efforts in the U.S. to build, own, and operate large-scale, mixed organic waste anaerobic digesters that produce Renewable Natural Gas (RNG). Prior to coming on board with Nature Energy, Clarke was VP of Project Origination at Brightmark Energy. At Brightmark, Clarke was sourcing early-stage dairy digester projects, nationwide. Clarke has experience in developing both dairy and municipal organic waste digester projects. Prior to joining Brightmark, Clarke was VP at CR&R Environmental Services' Bioenergy division which encompassed organics recycling, anaerobic digestion, and composting. Clarke has experience in all stages of RNG project development, the marketing and sale of RNG, carbon credits (RIN and LCFS), and organic soil products from Anaerobic Digestion. Clarke has a diverse background in renewable energy, environmental science, marketing, and business development. Clarke has worked in the fields of environmental consulting, gasification, biochar, and most recently RNG. Clarke has previously worked for renewable energy startups, Tetra Tech-San Francisco, and has owned his own marketing services company. Clarke is a graduate of UC Berkeley and aside from his extensive travels has been a California resident for his entire life and has recently relocated to Austin, Texas.
Job Titles:
- Finance Manager
- Lead Staff Member
Job Titles:
- Head of Portfolio Management at Brightmark
- Head of Portfolio Management, Brightmark LLC
Craig Murphy is the Head of Portfolio Management at Brightmark, a global leader in waste solutions to combat complex environmental challenges. Brightmark develops, owns and operates renewable natural gas & plastics renewal projects. Brightmark is on a mission to reimagine waste and is working to create a world without waste.
Mr. Murphy drives the company's efforts in development, origination and acquisitions of RNG projects. He has over 15 years of renewable energy experience. He has successfully built and purchased solar, wind, CHP, RNG as well as other energy projects in the US and globally. Currently he focuses on directing Brightmark's origination team on which projects to focus their efforts on and implementing RNG projects from conception through construction.
Craig holds a B.S. in mechanical engineering from Vanderbilt and an M.B.A. in finance from University of Chicago- Booth.
Job Titles:
- Director of Regulatory Strategy - Future of Heat
Donald Chahbazpour is currently the Director of Regulatory Strategy - Future of Heat at National Grid's Regulatory and Customer Strategy Group. Don is leading company's efforts to implement gas decarbonization and reduce methane emissions through policy, strategy and technology. The group is also responsible for engaging stakeholders to raise awareness regarding the potential of renewable natural gas and hydrogen, and how the gas network can enable a low carbon future.
Job Titles:
- Chairman
- Secretary of the Board of Directors
- Director of Research and Technology, Regenis
Dr. Craig Frear was recruited earlier this year from Washington State University (WSU) where he was instrumental in developing one of the nation's most prolific applied science and engineering programs in organic residuals and animal manure treatment for sustainable reuse.
Over the last decade, Dr. Frear's research has focused on enhancements to anaerobic digestion, biochemical recovery from waste and development of bio-refinery principles for rural and urban communities.
He holds five patents (with two pending) including an ammonia stripping system to remove ammonia from wastewater without the use of chemicals.
In addition to his research, Dr. Frear is the author of over sixty peer-reviewed publications on methane capture to create biogas and nutrient management to allow liquid from manure to be safely reused. He has also served as an investigator on numerous federal and state grants in the same scientific classifications.
Craig holds a PhD in Engineering Science from Washington State University, a MA in Educational Administration from Columbia University, and BA in Chemistry and Theology from St. Olaf College.
Job Titles:
- Lead Staff Member
- State Policy Manager
Job Titles:
- Lead Staff Member
- Communication & Events Coordinator
Job Titles:
- Lead Staff Member
- State Policy Manager
Job Titles:
- Principal
- Principal, Generate Capital
Mr. Dannan serves as a Principal leading the Organic Waste team at Generate Capital since fall 2016. He has over 18 years of financial markets experience, including 10 years of lending and asset management experience in the energy and infrastructure sectors. At Generate Mr. Dannan has overseen the creation of one of the largest organic waste processing businesses in North America covering animal manure, food waste, and biosolids processing projects.
Prior to joining Generate Capital, Mr. Dannan founded Energy & Infrastructure Capital, LLC ("EIC"), a Stamford based asset manager focused on debt investments. During this time EIC invested approximately $200 million in US energy and infrastructure debt on behalf of US and international investors. Prior to EIC, Mr. Dannan served as Vice President at Deutsche Asset & Wealth Management where he was responsible for investment strategy, capital raising and transaction execution. Prior to Deutsche, Mr. Dannan worked at Aladdin Capital Management's Infrastructure Debt business, and Dresdner Kleinwort's infrastructure financing, M&A and loan workout teams. Mr. Dannan received a Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Economics with Accounting from Loughborough University, England.
Kevin Struve is Executive Advisor to OCI N.V., a global producer of hydrogen-based products including nitrogen fertilizers, methanol, biofuels, diesel exhaust fluid, and melamine for agricultural, transportation, and industrial customers around the world. Mr. Struve has held several managerial and executive positions during his 35 year career at OCI and oversaw the expansion of the fertilizer and methanol businesses in the United States as well as the commercialization of bio-methanol produced from renewable natural gas as a biofuel in Europe. Mr. Struve is a board member and past chairman of the Methanol Institute, the trade association for the global methanol industry. He holds an MBA from the University of Virginia and a BA in Economics from Hobart College
Lauren is President and a partner of CH4 Biogas, a leader in bringing proven, clean energy biogas solutions to the United States. At CH4, Lauren has a wide range of responsibilities, including managing corporate strategy and operations. Lauren is leading the CH4 Biogas focus on working with the agricultural and food & beverages sectors to provide environmental waste and renewable energy solutions. Starting in 2012, Lauren led financing and business development for the company on its growth trajectory. As a result of those efforts, CH4 Biogas has multiple operating biogas facilities and several facilities in development with attention on future projects in the Northeast and Midwest. In her role, Lauren has also been very involved with the development of the industry through policy by helping to build awareness of the economic and environmental benefits of anaerobic digestion.
Prior to joining CH4 Biogas, Lauren spent over fifteen years in sales and strategy roles for industrial and environmental companies. The bulk of this time was spent in sales and marketing for GE Industrial and strategy consulting with McKinsey & Co. Lauren has an MBA from Harvard Business School and a BA from Harvard College in Environmental Science and Public Policy, where she graduated magna cum laude.
Job Titles:
- Vice President of Renewable Partnerships at Archaea Energy
As Vice President of Renewable Partnerships at Archaea Energy, Ms. Turner is responsible for overseeing and developing partnerships with organization seeking to decarbonize their operations and products. Ms. Turner has nearly a decade of experience in clean energy solutions, environmental credit compliance, and business partnership development. Prior to joining Archaea Energy, Ms. Turner worked in energy compliance services at Weaver & Tidwell LLP where she advised biofuel producers eligible for federal and state renewable fuel credits. Before that, Ms. Turner held multiple roles at Air Liquide including technical sales, market strategy, business development, and policy/regulatory activities within the biogas business.
Ms. Turner holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from The University of Texas at Austin.
Job Titles:
- Chief Operating Officer for Newtrient
Mark Stoermann is the Chief Operating Officer for Newtrient. Mark came to this position as an outgrowth of his experience with developing and building CNG stations, anaerobic digesters, and the biogas upgrading system at Fair Oaks Farms.
Before coming to Newtrient, Mark was the Chief Operating Officer for STAR BioEnergy LLC, the anaerobic digestion division of STAR Energy LLC, a company committed to the development of sustainable, renewable energy projects across the country. Mark was previously the Director of Operations for AMP Americas, a company committed to building out CNG infrastructure along the U.S. highway system. As the Project Manager for Fair Oaks Dairy Farms and Select Milk Producers, Mark was responsible for the construction of three anaerobic digesters that processed sand laden dairy manure. These projects included electrical generation, gas cleaning, rCNG as transportation fuel, and nutrient recovery projects.
In addition to the renewable energy industry, Mark has worked in the dairy and food processing industry over the past 35 years holding a variety of project, operations, and material management positions. He worked for Kraft Foods, Michigan Milk Producers, Raskas Cheese Products, ConAgra Foods, Fair Oaks Dairy Farm and Select Milk Producers.
Job Titles:
- Lead Staff Member
- Federal Policy Manager
Job Titles:
- Vice President of Finance for Smithfield Foods
Matt Newsom is the Vice President of Finance for Smithfield Foods. Smithfield Foods is committed to helping feed the world, and to provide families with wholesome, safe and affordable food with outstanding quality and value. As the largest hog producer and pork processor in America, Smithfield utilizes joint ventures to develop, own, and operate renewable natural gas projects on its farms and plants.
Mr. Newsom has been with Smithfield for more than 17 years, serving in various roles before joining the biogas team. Matt holds a B.A. in Economics from the University of Virginia, and an M.B.A. from the College of William and Mary.
Job Titles:
- Director of Policy
- Lead Staff Member
- Director of Federal Policy
Job Titles:
- Head of Bioenergy Finance at Live Oak Bank
Max Vernier is the head of Bioenergy Finance at Live Oak Bank on the Energy & Infrastructure team. The team has deployed over $1B in debt financing for small-scale distributed energy generation and energy efficiency since 2016 across solar, PV + storage, water efficiency, wastewater treatment, leachate management, landfill gas to energy, anaerobic digesters and biogas, composting facilities, small scale biorefineries, and biobased product manufacturing. Live Oak is the largest SBA and USDA Rural Development lender in the U.S. by volume of originations.
Job Titles:
- CEO of LCFS Consulting Services, Inc
Nathalie Hoffman has been advising clients on matters related to the LCFS since it first went into effect in 2011.
When the regulation underwent a major amendment in 2018, it added validation and verification functions required to be performed by professionals certified as LCFS verifiers. Nathalie became certified by CARB as such a verifier in 2020, in the first class ever.
The amended LCFS also included substantial new requirements for companies with existing certified fuel pathways and those wishing to get their pathways certified. Nathalie realized these companies would need assistance navigating the amended regulation and she founded LCFS Consulting Services, Inc. to provide that assistance.
While LCFS Consulting assists producers of traditional liquid biofuels like ethanol, biodiesel and renewable diesel, it specializes in RNG and innovative fuel pathways. Nathalie therefore joined the ABC and now serves as Co-Chair of the Agriculture Committee where she is working with others to expand the categories of livestock manure that can obtain an ultra-low carbon intensity score under the LCFS.
Job Titles:
- Chief Development Officer, Iogen Corporation
Pat joined Iogen in 1985 and is responsible for the company's commercial and project development activities outside of Brazil, including the development of opportunities and partnerships to produce advanced and cellulosic biofuels in North America. Pat has held numerous senior positions at Iogen, leading development and commercialization programs in the biofuels and biochemical space. He has been responsible for: the start-up and growth of Iogen's enzyme business, managing commercial relationships worldwide; the design, construction and commissioning of Iogen's cellulosic ethanol demonstration plant; and the development of Iogen's cellulosic ethanol project development capacity, including feedstock supply chain management, site development, product marketing, process engineering, cost engineering, and project contracting. Pat has a Bachelors degree in Civil Engineering and a Masters degree in Construction Engineering and Management from the University of Michigan.
Patrick Serfass is Executive Director of the American Biogas Council. Patrick has led the American Biogas Council since he helped create it in 2010. The American Biogas Council is the voice of the US biogas industry representing over 300 organizations all dedicated to maximizing the amount of organic material that's recycled into biogas and soil products. Beyond biogas, Patrick has more than 20 years' experience growing clean energy industries, like solar, hydrogen, biochar, and woody biomass, through the company that manages the ABC, Technology Transition Corporation. In Patrick's early career, he was a physical oceanographer, architectural engineer and designed unmanned deep ocean vehicles. Patrick holds a Bachelor of Arts in Engineering Sciences from Dartmouth College.
Job Titles:
- Vice Chair of the Board of Directors
Randy Beck is a 35 year career professional, currently at the helm of Waste Management's Renewable Energy group (WMRE) where his current focus is development of LFG to RNG facilities. Specializing in operations of power generation and gas compression equipment, he spent ten years as WMRE's Director of Operations with responsibility for 80+ beneficial use projects ranging from LFG to Electricity, LFG to Direct Gas Sales and LFG to RNG. This position brought a strong education in various gas treatment technologies as well as an education in managing 300+ reciprocating engines, 30+ gas turbines and 130+ facility operations personnel. Prior to his career with WMRE, he spent 20 years with Caterpillar and Detroit Diesel/Allison dealers in various operational leadership roles.
Job Titles:
- Founder and CEO of Bioenergy Devco
Shawn Kreloff is Founder and CEO of Bioenergy Devco and Executive Chairman of BTS Biogas. Shawn began his career working in the banking and technology areas for Credit Suisse and then began an entrepreneurial career, successfully founding, managing and building 7 companies in the technology sector over the course of 25 years. Throughout his life, he has been a passionate environmentalist, and when he first saw an anerobic digester in Germany in the 90's, he fell in love with the technology, its positive environmental potential, and the high likelihood for good investor returns. Shawn believes that properly developed, engineered and managed food waste anaerobic digestion projects can help change the world.
Job Titles:
- Manager, Public Policy and Planning, SoCalGas
Tanya Peacock has extensive experience in energy and environmental policy development. In her current role managing the Public Policy and Planning team for Southern California Gas Company, Peacock is responsible for federal, state, and local legislative analysis, local and regional planning, development of outreach and communications strategies, and climate and renewable gas policy development, with a focus on hydrogen.
In previous roles at SoCalGas, she managed Cap and Trade policy development and implementation, led the rate design group, managed participation in interstate pipeline rate cases at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, and developed energy efficiency programs.
Ms. Peacock is on the Boards of the Los Angeles League of Conservation Voters, the California Hydrogen Business Council (Chair of Advocacy and Chair of Pipeline Injection and Gas System Integration Committees) and MoveLA. Ms. Peacock is a member of the Stakeholder Advisory Committee for the LA regional chapter of the State's Assessment of Climate Change Impacts. Ms. Peacock holds a B.A. from Mills College and a master's degree in Urban and Regional Planning from Cornell University.
Job Titles:
- Vice President of Customers and Communities, Vermont Gas Systems
- Vice President, Decarbonization Technology for Vermont Gas Systems
Thomas Murray currently serves as the Vice President, Decarbonization Technology for Vermont Gas Systems, overseeing the company's Energy Service Team and External Relations. Tom is leading the company's innovation initiatives, which includes becoming the first gas utility in the nation to offer a Renewable Natural Gas program and other decarbonation efforts. In 2020, Tom will serve as the chairman of the American Gas Association's Sustainability Committee, where he is driving the national effort to incorporate RNG into the supply portfolio of the nation's gas utilities. Tom also handles legislative, community and key stakeholder relationships for the company. Prior to joining Vermont Gas, Tom served as the state of Vermont's Chief Information Officer and the Commissioner of Information and Innovation. He has also served as the state's Deputy Commissioner of the Economic Development. Tom worked in the telecommunications industry for over fifteen years with TDS Telecom and Rural Cellular Corporation. Tom grew up in Montpelier, VT, graduated from Western New England University (BS/BA) and Champlain College (MS).